September 2017 Wirral park paedophile who groomed 13-year-old girl asked the Queen to get involved in his case A “dangerous” Wirral man caged for preying on a schoolgirl he groomed over the internet has had a bid to clear his name thrown out by top judges. John Sadler, 25, was jailed for five years at Liverpool Crown Court in August 2014 after jurors convicted him of five counts of sexual activity with a child. Condemned as a dangerous offender, he was also ordered to serve an extra two years on licence after his release. Sadler – branded “manipulative and calculating” by the trial judge – lured his young victim to a series of secret meeting places after making contact via the web. During one sordid encounter in a public park the pair had sex and he persuaded the 13-year-old to perform oral sex. She was left traumatised and prone to nightmares following her ordeal. Sadler’s case reached London’s Appeal Court as he challenged the “safety” of his convictions. At trial he had denied ever meeting the youngster, said Mr Justice Phillips, insisting he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice. Sadler, of Meadow Crescent, Woodchurch, claimed his computer password was “known to others” and that his computer and mobile phone had been hacked. Someone else had sent messages to the 13-year-old, he insisted, but he had been left to take the blame. But Mr Justice Phillips, sitting with Lord Justice Davis and Mr Justice Garnham, said jurors were sure “that the complainant’s evidence, including her identification of Sadler, was true”. Sadler’s appeal bid was in essence “an attempt to re-argue points which were – or could have been – argued at his trial”, the judge added. Despite the strength of the prosecution case, Sadler had fought a futile battle to prove his innocence – including making representations to the Queen about his case. Refusing him permission to appeal, Mr Justice Phillips concluded: “These convictions are entirely safe, he has failed to identify a single valid ground.” March 2014 Paedophile jailed for grooming and having sex with 13-year-old girl in Wirral park A paedophile who groomed a 13-year-old girl before having sex with her in a Wirral park was given an extended prison sentence. John Sadler, 21, met his victim online and chatted to her through Skype and another website before meeting up with her for outdoor sex in Wallasey and Bebington. Sadler, of Meadowcroft Crescent, Woodchurch, denied five counts of sexual activity with a child but was found guilty after a trial at the end of January. Simon Berkson, prosecuting, said that when he was found guilty Sadler shouted towards his victim’s family in a threatening manner, saying: “I’ll ****ing have you when I’m out.” The court heard that the same girl had been a victim of another sex offender, 25-year-old Francis Carroll, of Summer Seat, Vauxhall, who last year was jailed for four years for similar offences and that she now suffered nightmares and her personal life had been affected. Sadler groomed the girl over the internet before meeting her on three occasions towards the end of 2012. As soon as he met her they had sexual relations which then continued on subsequent meetings. Sadler, who has no previous convictions, pretended he was 16 and carried on the pretence after she queried him abut his true age. He also admitted kissing a second girl, aged 14, and kissing her and putting his hand on her leg though that matter was not proceeded with. Judge Thomas Teague, QC, told Sadler his crimes were “highly manipulative and calculated”. He said: “That offending in my judgement indicates you have a powerful predisposition to prey on vulnerable young girls.” Judge Teague added that the fact that Sadler was in “total denial” about what he had done meant he represented a heightened risk to the public. He jailed Sadler for five years and added an extended license period of another two years and ordered him to serve four months consecutively for contempt of court after his outburst. Sadler was also given a sexual offences prevention order preventing him from contact with girls under 16 for ten years and told to sign on the sex offender’s register.